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Introduction to Programming

Designed for the not-yet-experienced programmer, this course will provide you with a structured foundation for developing complex programs in the fields of computer science or data science. If you are a self-taught programmer with scattered bits of understanding, or a complete novice, this is the course for you.

Here, you will gain a thorough understanding of how to write programs to solve problems, through structured, scaffolded, hands-on exercises with many examples and opportunities to practice. You will learn the foundational concepts of computer science by developing programs in the python programming language (one of the most commonly used languages).

We will also use many of the most common python packages -- why reinvent the wheel when you can use well-tested, flexible, pre-built solutions? While these packages can save significant time, it is also important to understand how they do their magic, and if your particular problem is the right fit to be solved by these potential tools. You will encounter the following python packages: numpy, scipy, matplotlib, pandas, seaborn, re (for regular expressions), textblob, nltk, and others.

In the process of learning how to program, we will explore different topics at the introductory level, including natural language processing and data analytics.

By the end of this course, you will be confident in your ability to solve a problem using the python programming language -- and how to verify that your solution is accurate.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction to Programming and Python

Welcome to the course! In this module, we will explore what makes the python programming language so excellent to learn and begin to write our first python programs. We will learn about variables, how to use them, how a program makes decisions using if statements, and how to interact with the user through input() and print() functions.

Control Statements, Loops, and Program Development

In this module, we will learn how to make our programs more flexible, and able to solve more complex problems. We'll see how we can make more complex decisions using the if statement by including elif and else. We'll also see how we can have the program repeat actions using for and while, and be introduced to other useful functions such as range(), mean(), median(), and mode().

Functions, A Beginning

In this module, we will learn how to create our own custom functions, which allow us to reuse our code, divide programs into meaningful chunks, and also reduce the number of errors and bugs in our code. This content will be split over 2 modules, with the first few sections being covered in this first module, with the remainder being covered in the next module.

Functions, The Ongoing Story

In this module, we will learn review functions, and continue practicing creating our own functions. There are a few lecture segments that touch on a few finer points from this chapter, and then more live programming examples. At this point in the semester, we have enough "tools" that we can write a larger program! You should experiment in the Reflective Practice and see what you can accomplish! In the full version of this course, this module also includes the beginning of a larger, 2 week long, project. Therefore, the content in this Module is somewhat shorter than normal.

Conclusion

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Provides structured hands-on exercises and examples for practice, beneficial for novice programmers and self-taught individuals with scattered knowledge

Emphasizes the use of industry-standard Python packages, enhancing practicality and efficiency

Covers topics such as natural language processing and data analytics, expanding the scope of programming skills

Designed for beginners, providing a strong foundation for those starting their programming journey

Led by Dr. Jennifer Coy, an experienced instructor, ensuring quality instruction

Absence of explicit prerequisites, making it accessible to a broader audience

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Introduction to Programming with these activities:

Review Basic Programming Concepts

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Strengthen your foundation by reviewing basic programming concepts such as variables, data types, and control flow.

Browse courses on Programming Fundamentals

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Read articles or tutorials on basic programming.
Complete online exercises.
Practice writing simple programs.

Complete Python Codecademy Course

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Reinforce your understanding of Python syntax and fundamentals by completing the Codecademy course on Python basics.

Browse courses on Python

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Sign up for the Codecademy Python course.
Complete the interactive lessons and exercises.
Practice writing Python code on your own.

Join a Python Study Group

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Connect with other learners to discuss Python concepts, share knowledge, and work on projects together.

Browse courses on Python

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Find a Python study group online or in your community.
Attend regular meetings and participate in discussions.
Collaborate with group members on projects.

Five other activities

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Develop a Simple Python Project

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Apply your Python skills by creating a simple project, such as a calculator, a game, or a data visualization tool.

Browse courses on Python

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Brainstorm ideas for a project.
Design and implement the project.
Test and debug the project.

Explore Additional Python Libraries

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Expand your Python knowledge by exploring additional libraries such as NumPy, SciPy, and matplotlib.

Browse courses on Python Libraries

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Identify Python libraries that align with your interests.
Find tutorials and documentation for the selected libraries.
Follow the tutorials and implement the concepts in your own projects.

Participate in a Python Coding Contest

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Challenge yourself and test your Python skills by participating in a coding competition.

Browse courses on Python

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Find a Python coding contest that aligns with your skill level.
Practice solving coding problems.
Participate in the contest and submit your solutions.

Mentor Junior Python Developers

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Share your knowledge and skills by mentoring junior Python developers, reinforcing your understanding and fostering community growth.

Browse courses on Python

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Sign up for a mentorship program.
Connect with mentees and provide guidance on Python topics.
Review mentees' code and provide feedback.

Contribute to an Open-Source Python Project

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Engage with the Python community and contribute to open-source projects, fostering collaboration and deepening your understanding.

Browse courses on Python

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Find an open-source Python project that aligns with your interests.
Read the project's documentation and contribute to discussions.
Submit bug reports or feature requests.
Write code and submit pull requests.

Career center

Learners who complete Introduction to Programming will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Data Analyst

Data Analysts are responsible for collecting, cleaning, and analyzing data to identify trends and patterns. They use their findings to help businesses make informed decisions. This course provides a solid foundation in programming, data analysis, and natural language processing, which are all essential skills for Data Analysts. The hands-on exercises and projects in this course will help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Software Developer

Software Developers design, develop, and maintain computer applications. They use their programming skills to create software that meets the needs of users. This course provides a strong foundation in programming fundamentals, data structures, and algorithms, which are all essential skills for Software Developers. The hands-on exercises and projects in this course will help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Developer

Data Scientist

Data Scientists are responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to help businesses make informed decisions. They use their programming skills to develop machine learning models and other data-driven solutions. This course provides a solid foundation in programming, data analysis, and machine learning, which are all essential skills for Data Scientists. The hands-on exercises and projects in this course will help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Quantitative Analyst

Quantitative Analysts use their programming skills to develop mathematical models that can be used to predict financial risks and opportunities. This course provides a strong foundation in programming, mathematics, and statistics, which are all essential skills for Quantitative Analysts. The hands-on exercises and projects in this course will help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantitative Analyst

Business Analyst

Business Analysts help businesses improve their operations by analyzing data and identifying inefficiencies. They use their programming skills to develop data-driven solutions that can help businesses save money and improve efficiency. This course provides a solid foundation in programming, data analysis, and business process improvement, which are all essential skills for Business Analysts. The hands-on exercises and projects in this course will help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Natural Language Processing Engineer

Natural Language Processing Engineers design and develop software that can understand and process human language. This course provides a solid foundation in programming, natural language processing, and machine learning, which are all essential skills for Natural Language Processing Engineers. The hands-on exercises and projects in this course will help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Natural Language Processing Engineer

Machine Learning Engineer

Machine Learning Engineers design and develop machine learning models that can be used to solve a variety of problems, such as fraud detection, customer segmentation, and natural language processing. This course provides a solid foundation in programming, machine learning, and data analysis, which are all essential skills for Machine Learning Engineers. The hands-on exercises and projects in this course will help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Machine Learning Engineer

Software Tester

Software Testers are responsible for testing software to ensure that it meets the requirements of users. They use their programming skills to develop test cases and automate testing processes. This course provides a solid foundation in programming, software testing, and quality assurance, which are all essential skills for Software Testers. The hands-on exercises and projects in this course will help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Tester

Data Engineer

Data Engineers design and develop the infrastructure that is used to store, process, and analyze data. This course provides a solid foundation in programming, data analysis, and cloud computing, which are all essential skills for Data Engineers. The hands-on exercises and projects in this course will help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Engineer

Database Administrator

Database Administrators are responsible for managing and maintaining databases. They use their programming skills to develop database schemas and optimize database performance. This course provides a solid foundation in programming, database management, and data security, which are all essential skills for Database Administrators. The hands-on exercises and projects in this course will help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Database Administrator

Web Developer

Web Developers design and develop websites. They use their programming skills to create websites that are user-friendly and efficient. This course provides a solid foundation in programming, web development, and user experience design, which are all essential skills for Web Developers. The hands-on exercises and projects in this course will help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer

IT Project Manager

IT Project Managers are responsible for planning and managing IT projects. They use their programming skills to develop project plans and track project progress. This course provides a solid foundation in programming, project management, and IT infrastructure, which are all essential skills for IT Project Managers. The hands-on exercises and projects in this course will help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for IT Project Manager

Technical Writer

Technical Writers create documentation for software and other technical products. They use their programming skills to understand the technical details of products and to write clear and concise documentation. This course provides a solid foundation in programming, technical writing, and user experience design, which are all essential skills for Technical Writers. The hands-on exercises and projects in this course will help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

Computer Support Specialist

Computer Support Specialists provide technical support to users of computers and other electronic devices. They use their programming skills to troubleshoot problems and to recommend solutions. This course provides a solid foundation in programming, computer hardware, and software, which are all essential skills for Computer Support Specialists. The hands-on exercises and projects in this course will help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Support Specialist

Network Administrator

Network Administrators are responsible for designing and maintaining computer networks. They use their programming skills to configure network devices and to troubleshoot network problems. This course provides a solid foundation in programming, networking, and security, which are all essential skills for Network Administrators. The hands-on exercises and projects in this course will help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Administrator

Reading list

We've selected 23 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Introduction to Programming.

Python Cookbook

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Collection of recipes that cover a wide range of Python programming topics. It great resource for Python programmers of all levels.

Introduction to Programming

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What's inside

Syllabus

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Activities

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